Phil Knight and his wife, Penny, are committing $1.1 billion to healthcare institutions in Oregon, creating one of the largest philanthropic gifts to a U.S. health institution while expanding the couple’s long-running support for medical research and patient care. The donation will focus on women’s health and cardiovascular medicine, two areas where Providence plans to expand specialized treatment and infrastructure.

Where Will the $1.1 Billion Go?

The donation will support Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland and the Providence Heart Institute. A central component will be the creation of Oregon’s first hospital dedicated specifically to women’s health, located on the St. Vincent campus.

The planned facility is expected to include a modernized neonatal intensive care unit and integrate services covering gynecology, pregnancy, labor and delivery, menopause and cardiology. The structure is intended to provide a broader continuum of care rather than separating these services across different medical settings.

How Will the Gift Expand Cardiac Care?

A significant portion of the funding will also support cardiovascular care throughout Providence’s eight Oregon hospitals. Planned uses include recruiting physicians, advancing medical technology, supporting clinical trials and developing more personalized approaches to patient treatment.

The Knights have already contributed $200 million to the Providence Heart Institute over the past decade. Providence says that earlier funding helped establish a heart transplant program and provided resources for physicians to pursue research and administrative work alongside clinical responsibilities.

The latest commitment could therefore build on an existing healthcare infrastructure rather than representing a standalone philanthropic project.

Why Is the Donation Significant for the Knight Family?

The $1.1 billion commitment follows another major healthcare donation from the couple. In 2025, Phil and Penny Knight donated $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute. Their philanthropic activity has made healthcare a major focus of their charitable giving, with Forbes estimating that the couple had donated approximately $4.5 billion to charity before the latest announcement.

The Knights were also included on TIME’s TIME100 Philanthropy 2025 list, reflecting the scale of their charitable activities.

What Does This Mean for Nike’s Co-Founder?

Phil Knight built his fortune through Nike, which he co-founded with former track coach Bill Bowerman in 1964 under the name Blue Ribbon Sports. The company went public in 1980 and became one of the world’s leading athletic apparel businesses. Knight retired as Nike’s chairman in 2016.

The philanthropic announcement comes as Nike itself faces a more difficult commercial environment. The company has dealt with weaker sales and increased competition in China, while its stock recently reached its lowest level since 2014. The contrast highlights the distinction between Knight’s personal philanthropic activities and Nike’s current operating challenges.

What Could Come Next for Oregon Healthcare?

The impact of the donation will ultimately depend on how effectively Providence converts the funding into expanded capacity, medical innovation and patient access. The planned women’s hospital could create a dedicated regional center for specialized care, while continued investment in cardiovascular medicine could strengthen Providence’s research and treatment capabilities across Oregon.

For the healthcare sector, the scale of the commitment also illustrates how large private donations can influence medical infrastructure, physician recruitment and research priorities over an extended period.